LAFC Signs FLEX As Official Jersey Sponsor

LAFC announced a multi-year partnership with FLEX.

FLEX, a brand division of global power tool manufacturer Chervon, will serve as the Club’s “Official Jersey Sponsor” and feature branding included on all Club, Community and specialty jerseys.

Additionally, FLEX is the “Official Power Tool Partner of LAFC” and the “Official Construction Tools” of the Club.

The new partnership includes exclusive content pieces, media, signage and a co-branded retail promotion.

“We are proud to have FLEX Power Tools on the front of our jersey,” LAFC Co-President Larry Freedman said. “FLEX is an exciting and ambitious brand that will work with us to be a force for good in our community.”

LAFC becomes the first sports organization to partner with Chervon N.A.

“FLEX is thrilled to partner with such an inspiring team, organization and fan base and we look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with the Black and Gold” said Joe Turoff CMO at FLEX’s parent company Chervon. “Supporting LAFC and the greater Los Angeles community will be our core goal. We look forward to winning together in the years ahead.”

FLEX, a line of cutting-edge, cordless power tools, accessories, batteries and chargers, will launch nationwide this May. The all-new FLEX 24V line-up features industry-leading Lithium-Ion and brushless motor technologies with 20 percent more power than competitors and up to 50 percent faster charging.

On April 12, FLEX will host the “FLEX Face Off,” a launch event at 8pm ET/5pm PT. Viewers can learn more about the brand and see FLEX tools go head-to-head against some of the industry’s top pro brands and hear how to enter to win a full lineup of FLEX 24V power tools and a brand-new Ford F-150. Sign up for the event at www.FLEXPowerTools.com/faceoff.

FLEX joins Delta Air Lines, Heineken, Toyota, Youtube TV, Kaiser Permanente, Target and Estrella TV as LAFC’s Golden Boot Club Partners. The Golden Boot Club provides exclusive access, visibility and experiences for LAFC’s most elite level of partnership.

LAFC partnered with Legends Global Partnerships, who previously advised LAFC on both its inaugural jersey deal with YouTube TV and stadium naming rights deal with Banc of California.

LaLiga Launches “The MBA of LaLiga”

Through its educational department, LaLiga Business School, LaLiga is launching an international MBA, taught in English, entitled “The MBA of LaLiga”, which is focused on preparing people who want to lead change in the sports and entertainment industry.

In order to adapt to and anticipate change, this MBA features the participation of top professionals in the sports industry, and will draw from case studies from LaLiga and its 42 clubs, as well as from other sports, entertainment stakeholders and technological and digital environments, employing first-hand cutting-edge methodologies together with LaLiga’s own operational techniques and efficient mechanisms.

Another characteristic of the MBA is its commitment to equality of opportunities: it aims to increase the presence and visibility of women in positions of leadership and responsibility in the sports and entertainment industries.

Under the supervision of Óscar Mayo, Director of Business, Marketing and International Development at LaLiga, and Edouard Legendre, external advisor to LaLiga and recognised international expert in Brand Management and Sports Marketing, the programme is divided into six modules, each of which has been designed and will be coordinated by a leading professional in the fields and topics covered in each module. This team of Module Directors is made up of Patricia Rodríguez, Director of Granada C.F.; Jorge de la Vega, Sales and Marketing Director of LaLiga; María Wandosell, CEO of Motorpress Ibérica; Ornella D. Bellia, Head of Professional Football at FIFA; Jaume Pons, Head of Social Media and Digital Content at LaLiga; and Amadeo Salvo, Executive Vice President of Power Electronics.

The MBA aims to lay the foundations for the transformation of the sports and entertainment industries, focusing on new technologies and social evolution as drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship.

“Doing the same thing from one year to the next is no longer an option in the sports industry. We have entered the era of the continuous update. This MBA underlines LaLiga’s commitment to the ongoing professionalisation of the sector, training and supporting people who want to find professional fulfilment through the dynamisation and expansion of an industry in which new challenges arise every day and new opportunities are born”, says Óscar Mayo, LaLiga’s Director of Business, Marketing and International Development.

Worcestershire County CC Agrees Partnership With Pulseroll

Pulseroll have signed a new partnership with Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

This partnership will see the Worcestershire squad benefit from Pulseroll’s range of scientifically proven muscle recovery devices as part of their daily routines and to help them prepare and perform at their maximum as they chase success on a number of fronts during the upcoming 2021 campaign.

Pulseroll’s extensive suite of products have been recognized to have a range of benefits, including increased circulation to help reduce muscle soreness, a 22% increase in training recovery and circulation and a 14% improvement in range of movement.

Pulseroll founder and CEO, Paul McCabe, commented, “We are delighted to officially announce our partnership with Worcestershire County Cricket Club. This is another big step for Pulseroll and we are thrilled to support a first-class cricket club with a fantastic history. I’m looking forward to seeing the team make use of our products throughout the season in order to maximise their on-field performance.’’

David Hoskins, Head of Commercial at Worcestershire County Cricket Club added, ‘’ The Club is delighted to be partnering with Pulseroll who are one of the most innovative companies in providing elite sports players with recovery and sports equipment. Pulseroll’s equipment will help our players recover quicker and better prepare for training sessions and games.”

Red Bull Racing Teams Up With Oracle For Cloud Infrastructure

Red Bull Racing, the four-time Formula 1 World Champion team, has chosen Oracle as its official cloud infrastructure partner.

Red Bull will leverage the machine learning and data analytics capabilities of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to optimize the way data is used across its business; from on-track activities to putting more information in the hands of the Team’s global fan base. The OCI-powered capabilities will help the team sharpen its already formidable competitive edge.

Formula 1 is a sport often described as being driven by data; teams have an obsession with analysis and minute details which could give them a competitive advantage on the track. This relationship, between two cutting-edge technology companies, will include work to optimize and elevate the use of data in improving car performance for Red Bull. This comes in the form of a multi-year roadmap, touching on both on and off-track engineering operations, leveraging the extensive artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Welcoming the new partnership, Red Bull Racing Honda Team Principal, Christian Horner, said: “This is a hugely significant partnership for Red Bull Racing Honda. Oracle is a massive organization that has been at the forefront of technical innovation for more than four decades.

As one of the industry’s most recognized and trusted names in database management and cloud computing, Oracle brings huge capability, innovation, and expertise to many of the world’s largest and most successful businesses. To be able to tap into that exceptional power and knowledge is a major step forward for our Team. Oracle’s expertise will touch many areas of the business from the development of major fan engagement and brand building mechanisms to providing rich new resources across the Team, including within the engineering and design departments.”

Red Bull Racing Honda requires a cloud infrastructure platform with the highest levels of performance, scalability, and security. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure brings unique capabilities enabling Red Bull to expand its use of data science and analytics, so it can accommodate the growing and diversifying engineering work undertaken on the Red Bull Technology Campus.

“This is the perfect alliance of two organizations that share a passion for design, performance, and winning,” said Ariel Kelman, Chief Marketing Officer, Oracle. “Red Bull Racing didn’t win multiple Drivers’ Championships and Constructors’ Championships in its relatively young existence without pushing boundaries. Oracle is committed to working with Red Bull Racing Honda to discover and create the technologies and designs that will allow it to surpass expectations and set new standards in Formula 1.”

Formula 1 Agrees Multi-Year Deal With Zoom

Formula 1 and Zoom Video Communications have entered a new extensive, multi-year partnership consisting of multiple touchpoints across the upcoming 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship racing season and beyond.

As part of the partnership Zoom will deliver comprehensive communications services and is working with Formula 1® to provide new business and hospitality opportunities through unique live-sport experiences during and beyond the ongoing pandemic.

Both brands already collaborated in 2020 on the successful Virtual Paddock Club experience, which will continue this season as part of the new expanded partnership agreement kicking off with the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 on March 26 to 28, 2021.

Across 21 races this season guests can join the Virtual Paddock Club through Zoom to experience a range of bespoke virtual hospitality offerings including live updates and insight from legends of the sport. In addition, and in compliance with respective local pandemic regulations, guests can also join the Virtual Paddock Club onsite at select individual races or use Zoom Rooms set up in the Paddock Club Business Lounges to conduct other business. F1® guests, global partners, and F1® teams can enjoy a seamless, exclusive experience – whether onsite or virtually.

Zoom also serves as the official unified communications platform of F1®, and will help the organization to achieve its sustainability goals moving forward, specifically contributing to F1’s remote operations which will reduce its carbon emissions by using virtual meetings wherever possible.

“We’re delighted to expand our partnership with Zoom following our collaboration on the successful Virtual Paddock Club last year,” said Ben Pincus, Director of Commercial Partnerships, Formula 1®. “Zoom will become the official unified communications platform of Formula 1, with its services expanding across the wider business. We are excited to continue our work with Zoom and to keep innovating together.”

“We are thrilled to continue and expand our collaboration with Formula 1 into a major multi-year partnership above and beyond past activities,” said Janine Pelosi, Zoom CMO.

“While the 2020 season has shown that the Virtual Paddock Club offered an engaging VIP sports experience despite the limitations set by the global pandemic, this new season provides an opportunity for a seamless hybrid model including virtual and on-site activations where the situation allows – offering the best of both worlds for enterprises and their VIPs. We’re proud to partner with F1 and use our brand and technology to shape the future of sports events while also supporting organizations on their mission to become more sustainable.”

The European Tour Signs Moët Hennessy And Chateau D’Esclans As Official Wine Supplier

The European Tour has signed Moët Hennessy and Chateau D’Esclans as the Official Wine Supplier of all Tour owned events in England, Scotland and Wales.

The three-year partnership will primarily see the premium Cloudy Bay, Terrazas and Whispering Angel brands poured exclusively on site, starting at six events on the 2021 Race to Dubai.

The partnership will begin at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett at The Belfry, the iconic former Ryder Cup venue in Sutton Coldfield, England, and includes two events on the Rolex Series – the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship – as well as the Wales Open, Hero Open, and English Open.

Max Hamilton, European Tour Commercial Director, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome a world-renowned partner such as Moët Hennessy and the Chateau D’Esclans collection to our Tour owned events in England, Scotland and Wales. We look forward to working together over the next three years to provide a premium offering at some of our most recognisable Tour owned events, as we also cautiously anticipate the return of fans to our events later this year.”

Alexei Rosin MHUK Managing Director, said: “Moët Hennessy is delighted to be an Official Supplier of the European Tour’s owned events in England, Scotland and Wales with our New Zealand Cloudy Bay and Argentinean Terrazas de los Andes wine. We are very excited about the opportunity for spectators to sample and discover the stories behind these delicious wines over the next three years.”

Guy Sangster from Chateau D’Esclans, said: “Chateau D’Esclans are also delighted to be the official rosé wine of the European Tour’s owned events in England, Scotland and Wales. We hope those in attendance will enjoy our iconic wine “Whispering Angel” and other rosé wines from our portfolio.”

The partnership will include branded wine outlets within the Championship Village at each event, as well as the opportunity to host a wine tasting experience within 18th hole hospitality pavilions.

Sportradar Agrees Multi-Year Distribution Partnership With CBA League

Sportradar has signed a multi-year global partnership with the CBA League, which starts in the current 2020/21 season.

The deal will see regular season matches, post-season games and CBA League All-Star games distributed to broadcasters, streaming and OTT platforms in territories outside Greater China.

Fans will now have the ability to access short-form video content, as well as full coverage of the match throughout the season.

Steve Byrd, Head of Global Strategic Partnerships, said: “Chinese basketball has been a traditional force in the international arena and we are excited to be part of expanding the reach of the top level CBA to markets around the world.”

“Our approach based on data and experience is what sets us apart in fulfilling the goal that leagues like the CBA want, and we are excited to partner with them to achieve that goal,” added Byrd.

Sportradar has successfully partnered with the K League to expand its broadcast presence worldwide, with the first season of engagement seeing a massive expansion of reach through online and traditional broadcast platforms. Currently, Sportradar is distributing media rights for the National Basketball League (Australia) globally.

A CBA League spokesman said: “We are very pleased with the partnership with Sportradar and we believe that this partnership will provide enriched possibilities and greater awareness for the CBA League, given its vast experience and recent history. By building opportunities globally in this long-term partnership, we hope to develop the continued growth of the CBA League and reach new audiences worldwide. ”

The CBA League has seen massive growth in the domestic market with the emergence of local players and the influx of great talent around the world. With Sportradar’s industry-leading expertise and experience in dealing with global rights, the company will work closely together to develop a comprehensive business strategy to enhance its worldwide distribution of its media rights.

Betway Expands In The US With NBA & NHL Deals

Betway has expanded its presence across the US by entering into a partnership with seven franchises across the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League ecosystems.

Its collaboration with DGC, the company secured market access in a number of US states, where it said that it will use the Betway brand for online casino and sports betting offerings.

The group’s latest slew of partnerships sees alliances struck with five NBA franchises, namely the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors.

Furthermore, Betway has teamed-up with four-time Stanley Cup Champions New York Islanders, with the Los Angeles Kings to also feature the brand via in-game and other digital assets.

Anthony Werkman, Betway CEO, stated: “It’s a very exciting time for the Betway brand as we enter the USA through our licensee partner DGC. We are delighted to have secured initial deals with six prestigious US sports teams. The deals are an extension of our existing focus to promote the Betway brand in high-profile sports shown around the world.

“Our branding will be seen courtside and rinkside in some of the biggest arenas in North America, bringing our customers closer to the action.

“Our brand is recognised globally as a leader in offering a fair, safe and responsible environment in which to place wagers and we look forward to US customers enjoying a similar experience.”

Euroleague Basketball Announces 2021 FanXP Innovation Challenge

Euroleague Basketball is once again opening its doors to innovators for the 2021 FanXP Innovation Challenge by inviting the latest generation of tech startups to join the sports fan revolution by creating new and unique experiences for the devoted followers of its competitions.

The FanXP Innovation Challenge, staged in collaboration with N3XT Sports, is the biggest basketball startup competition in the world. It aims to revolutionize the basketball sector by tackling one of the most transversal challenges in the sports industry: to offer fans the best experience possible.

The theme of the FanXP’s fourth edition is “Sports in a New World”, for which startups will be tasked with offering digital fan engagement solutions, digital asset commercialization solutions and expanded partnership reach-and-results solutions.

Through FanXP, startups will get the opportunity to showcase their solutions, gain insights into Euroleague Basketball’s ecosystem through private mentoring sessions with company executives, and compete to test their products in a 10-week incubation project with the top basketball clubs in Europe.

As in previous editions, the 2021 FanXP Innovation Challenge will boast a lineup of sports industry experts as its jury members. These experts will provide startups with valuable insights on how to ensure their products and services match the needs of present and future sports clients. Startups can now apply to participate at https://fanxp.euroleague.net/.

“Now more than ever, we are focused on taking fans to a higher level of experience with our unique brand of basketball, and the 2021 FanXP Innovation Challenge will help us apply the latest ideas in the market to that effort,” Roser Queralto, Chief Business Officer at Euroleague Basketball, said. “In a fast-changing world and entertainment marketplace, our fans are accustomed to us offering them something new and more exciting each season. With the help of these innovators, we will keep delivering on that promise.”

OneFootball Appoints Nikolaus Von Doetinchem To Lead OTT Streaming Business

Nikolaus von Doetinchem has been appointed as Vice-President OTT Streaming & Media Rights and will oversee OneFootball’s live-streaming and on-demand content offering.

An industry-leading OTT streaming platform designed specifically to engage with younger, digitally-driven football fans around the world, OneFootball welcomes von Doetinchem as a key appointment to drive and build OneFootball’s media rights business. Following recently announced OTT partnerships with, amongst others, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Scottish Professional Football League and Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League and with discussions at an advanced stage with a host of new league and federation partners, von Doetinchem joins OneFootball at a time of rapid expansion.

Von Doetinchem brings a wealth of unrivalled experience to his role as Vice-President OTT Streaming & Media Rights following an extensive career of more than 20 years working within the sports media rights industry. As President of Media at SPORTFIVE, he has been at the forefront of the industry and is highly respected throughout the global football media landscape. OneFootball and SPORTFIVE continue to enjoy a productive relationship through their existing partnerships.

The appointment solidifies OneFootball’s unique position within the football media ecosystem following the recent confirmation of Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Olympique de Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid and the German Football Association as shareholders.

Von Doetinchem will take up his new role on 19 April 2021.

Lucas von Cranach, CEO and Founder of OneFootball, said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Nikolaus to OneFootball and I have no doubt that with his experience and leadership our ambitious growth plans will be further accelerated. The way fans engage with football continues to change and OTT streaming is an area we will actively be developing by offering leagues and federations around the world new ways to connect with their fans through their content.”

Nikolaus von Doetinchem, VP OTT Streaming & Media Rights of OneFootball, said: “The football media landscape continues to rapidly evolve and OneFootball is perfectly positioned to work with rights owners, platforms and broadcasters to provide fans around the world with an unrivalled OTT streaming offering. I look forward to working alongside Lucas and the OneFootball team in the years ahead.”